New year means new licenses and regulations

Those who have not already done so need to buy a new fishing license and trout stamp with the changing of the calendar.

Click here to purchase a Connecticut fishing license.

The new year also brings new regulations to the state, including a statewide “Catch and Release” season for trout and kokanee from March 1 to 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April (Opening Day of harvest).  The full version of the regulations is available on the Secretary of State’s web page.

Seasons

–        Removes the closed season for fishing on all lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

–        Establishes a statewide “Catch and Release” season for trout and kokanee from March 1 to 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April (Opening Day of harvest).

–        Extends the season on trout management lakes from March 31 to 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April (Opening Day of harvest).

-Establishes a statewide “Catch and Release” season for trout and kokanee from March 1 to 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April (Opening Day of harvest).

–        Retains thermal refuge closure to protect trout while seeking refuge in cold-water tributaries as indicated by signs posted by CT DEEP.

Species

–        Revises the statewide daily creel limit for trout and kokanee to be 5 trout daily AND 5 kokanee daily (previously 5 of either, 8 in aggregate).

Waterbodies

–        Establishes the following special trout regulations on East Twin Lake and Lake Wononskopomuc: During the period from 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April through the last day of February the daily creel limit for trout shall be five, not more than one of which may be a brown trout, and the minimum length for brown trout shall be twenty-two inches. During the period from March first through 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April, inclusive, the daily creel limit for trout shall be one and the minimum length limit shall be twenty-two inches.

–        Adds Long Pond (North Stonington) and Lake Wononskopomuc to the list of Trout Management Lakes.

–        Prohibits ice fishing on Factory Pond (Salisbury), Lake Chamberlain (Bethany), Lake Saltonstall (Branford, East Haven), Maltby Lakes (Orange, West Haven), Lake McDonough (New Hartford, Barkhamsted) and Shenipsit Lake (Ellington, Tolland, Vernon).

Gear

–        Establishes a limit of two devices per person when ice fishing on East Twin Lake or Lake Wononskopomuc. This may be two (2) tip ups, two (2) jigging rods or one of each.

Definitions

–        Establishes a definition for Cast Net, Inline Circle Hook and Culling.

–        Revises the definition of Closed Season to conform with the definition provided in state statute